ing the public interests, began to lay down a series of rules
for the conduct of its ambassadors. Thus, in 1236, envoys to the court
of Rome are forbidden to procure a benefice for anyone without leave of
the doge and little council; in 1268 ambassadors are commanded to
surrender on their return any gifts they may have received, and by
another decree they are compelled to take an oath to conduct affairs to
the honour and advantage of the republic. About the same time it was
decided that diplomatic agents were to hand in, on their return, a
written account of their mission; in 1288 this was somewhat expanded by
a law decreeing that ambassadors were to deposit, within fifteen days of
their return, a written account of the replies made to them during their
mission, together with anything they might have seen or heard to the
honour or in the interests of the republic. These provisions, which were
several times renewed, notably in 1296, 1425 and 1533, are the origin of
the famous reports of the Venetian ambassadors to the senate, which are
at once a monument to the political genius of Venetian statesmen and a
mine of invaluable historical material.[7]

These are but a few examples of a long series of regulations, many
others also dating to the 13th century, by which the Venetian government
sought to systematize its diplomatic service. That permanent diplomatic
agencies were not established by it earlier than was the case is
probably due to the distrust of its agents by which most of this
legislation of the republic is inspired. In the 13th century two or
three months was considered over-long a period for an ambassador to
reside at a foreign court; in the 15th century the period of residence
was extended to two years, and in the 16th century to three. This latter
rule continued till the end of the republic; the embassy had become
permanent, but the ambassador was changed every three years.

The origin of the change from temporary to permanent missions has been
the subject of much debate and controversy. The theory that it was due,
in the first instance, to the evolution of the Venetian consulates
(_bajulats_) in the Levant into permanent diplomatic posts, and that the
idea was thence transferred to the West, is disproved by the fact that
Venice had established other permanent embassies before the baylo (q.v.)
at Constantinople was transformed into a diplomatic agent of the first
rank. Nor is the first known instance of the ap